Submit report on Kunal's suicide bid within two days: court to jail authorities

Kolkata: A city court today sought a detailed report from Presidency Jail authorities within two days as to how the untoward incident of Saradha scam accused Kunal Ghosh allegedly making a suicide attempt in jail could happen despite after being cautioned by the court to keep a strict vigil. Sessions judge at Bankshall Court Arvind Mishra directed Presidency Jail authorities to submit the report by 19 November and also sought a report on alleged loss of his belongings as submitted by his counsels before the court.

The suspended Trinamool Congress MP had in the early hours of 14 November allegedly taken sleeping pills and was admitted to state-run SSKM Hospital where he was treated and thereafter released yesterday.

On 10 November, when he was produced before the judge, Ghosh had in open court threatened to commit suicide if the CBI did not take proper action against “those involved” within three days.

The court had then directed the jail authorities to take precautionary measures to prevent any such untoward incident.

Following the incident, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced the suspension of the jail superintendent, jail doctor and sentry staff on duty to guard Ghosh.

Appearing for Ghosh, counsel Soumyajit Raha submitted that his client’s version with regard to the suspension of the officials was that they were innocent.

As Ghosh remained seated on a bench inside the dock, Raha told the court that his client was seriously ill, while praying for his bail.

He claimed that the suspended Trinamool Congress MP was not being given proper care and that there was no ground for keeping him in custody.

The judge rejected the bail prayer and extended the judicial custody of Ghosh till 21 November, when he will be produced before the court again.

The court also rejected the bail prayer of Saradha scam accused Sudipta Sen and his associate Debjani Mukherjee, and extended their judicial remand till 21 November.

PTI